ExxonMobil to drill Mandar and Surumana in December

American energy firm ExxonMobil Corp is waiting for the drilling rig to be used at the Mandar and Surumana blocks in the deepwater area of Makassar Strait and is expected to start drilling campaigns at the block in December this year.

"We are now in the final phase of evaluating seismic data, while waiting for the drilling rig to arrive," the company's Vice President for External Relations Maman Budiman said.

The firm plans to drill three wells at each of the block in the period of 2009-2010. The firrm wholly owns the blocks.

Maman earlier said that EMOI has secured a rig owned by Seadrill called West Aquarius - which is currently being assembled at Daewoo?s yard in South Korea - for the drilling at both blocks.

According to Maman, the rig will operate in the water depth of 2,000 meters, targeting hydrocarbon reservoir at the depth of 4,000 meters. (godang).